Las Vegas clears biggest hurdle toward NBA expansion

The Welcome to Las Vegas sign may be welcoming an NBA franchise in 2028. LAS VEGAS — The biggest hurdle has been cleared. Las Vegas’ NBA future was decided Wednesday when the league’s Board of Governors decided to move forward with exploration of expanding from the current 30 teams to 32.

Along with Las Vegas, Seattle is also being considered. Without the owners’ green lighting the plan, Vegas’ NBA dream would have died right there. Instead, it glided over the biggest hurdle the way Edwin Moses used to navigate the hurdles in his illustrious track career.

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement from New York where the owners met and voted. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties. ” Understand that there are still other hurdles to clear before a Las Vegas and Seattle team steps foot onto an NBA floor in 2028-29.

The biggest will be the ownership group that will go through a thorough vetting process courtesy of investment bank PJT Partners before the owners agreer to let them into their club. Whoever is approved better have deep, deep pockets. ESPN has said on numerous occasions that the cost to join the NBA will range from $7 billion to $10 billion.